Grandkids and humor

One of the joys of having grandchildren is the possibility of laughing at situations that were thoroughly exasperating when one was a parent. I know that I should not, but, somehow, exasperating childhood memories acquire the patina of funny stories after many years pass. I tell the stories sometimes, but, very carefully. Our three daughters can growl at me quite menacingly if I tell the wrong story at the wrong time. I have been told that I am not yet careful enough.

For 10 years, Bill Watterson drew the Calvin and Hobbes comics. During those years, he was able to find the funny side of those thoroughly exasperating situation. One of them is pictured above. All parents have memories of situations such as the above, when a child does something that seems completely logical to them but totally illogical to us. Why should they not paint their faces with permanent marker? It is colorful and fun. What is wrong with painting on the walls when you run out of paper to draw on? I still miss those comics.

My wife (presbitera) and I are fortunate to have two daughters who have not had to wait to be grandparents to have the same sense of humor as Bill Watterson (the third one has no children yet). One of them very creatively posts regularly on the utterly frustrating things that young children do, but that are actually funny once you calm down. I like reading her posts. Her creativity and her humor shine forth in a very special way.

I must admit that I never had the sense of humor at that time that I have now, one step safely removed from child raising. And, that is why I admire my wife and our daughters so much. They all seemed to have had, and have now, the same sense of humor as Bill Watterson. Because of their sense of humor, I am blessed to have the daughters and grandchildren that we have now.

Enjoy your children and grandchildren. They are laughter-inducing, anxiety-inducing, anger-inducing. But, they are most certainly a blessing from God.